Archive for month: April, 2013

Welcome to the Spring/Summer ’13 edition of Private Islands Magazine. I grew up in a place very different from the islands of Fiji, in the smog-filled, crime-driven, concrete valley of South Central Los Angeles. As a boy living in L.A., I dreamed not only of having my own home, but of having a magical place that all of my family and friends could come – a place with warm waters, sunny skies, and exuberant smiles. In my early 20s, I set out on a quest to see the greatest islands in the world, from the Seychelles to Bora Bora. Eventually, I found home in the amazing culture of Fiji, where time is told by the beat of the lali drum, and where laughter is the dominant sound that fills the air, outside the soothing lull of crashing waves

LoAnn Halden No destination on the planet is more closely associated with luxury than the Maldives, and for good reason. Its landscape seems as if it burst from the sea floor ready-made for exclusive resorts: More than 1,000 coral islands rest contentedly atop an underwater mountain range in the middle of the Indian Ocean, basking in year-round sun and caressed by otherworldly azure seas. The surrounding reefs teem with tropical fish only a few fin kicks off the islands’ white-sand beaches

By David M. Brown After landing at the airport on Busuanga Island in northernmost Palawan province, you can reach magical Dumunpalit Island in about an hour, depending on the trades, by a spider boat or smaller banca piloted by the local Filipinos. As if knowing you’re en route somewhere special, dolphins often frolic, arc and dive beside you in the turquoise waters. The approximately 75-acre red marble and volcanic-rock island, surrounded by coral reefs, is in the Mindoro Strait connecting the South China Sea to the Sulu Sea, about a 40-minute flight southeast of Manila. Dumunpalit is a last frontier of the Philippines, a timeless land of awe, wonder, sea and stars

The private island lifestyle goes hand-in-hand with adventure, independence, and style. One of the best ways to compliment this lifestyle is to explore one’s surrounding waters. For those looking to dive in deep, we recommend U-Boat Worx. U-Boat Worx is a Netherlands-based company specializing in the crafting of high-quality, cost-effective private submarines. Catering to a diverse and passionate group of end-users, they build a versatile and trend-setting line of submersibles that balances luxury with innovation. Setting the standard for 21 st Century underwater exploration, their mission is to create the safest, most reliable, highest quality and technologically advanced submersibles using 21st century innovations and materials at the industry’s most competitive prices.

Just off Panama’s Pacific coast, nestled between nationally protected marine areas in the Gulf of Montijo, is tropical Cebaco Island. With its rolling hills, palm-fringed coves, sandy beaches, cascading waterfalls, and dramatic rock formations, this 3706-acre island is a world of its own. Seen from above, the island looks like an emerald set in a sea of sapphire. Facing the open Pacific on the island’s Southwestern side is Cebaco Private Biosphere, a unique real-estate opportunity.

The majestic mountain aerie that is Shelter Island Estate has recently reduced its asking price by USD$ 15, 500, 000. Originally priced at USD$ 75, 000, 000, the island is now selling for USD$ 59, 500, 000. With such an extreme price drop, this incredibly rare property has re-positioned itself in the island market – once a distant dream, it now stands as a viable reality for many island buyers.